Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage today (01) ordered that 13 persons including Ruling Party MPs Sanath Nishantha and Milan Jayathilake, former Provincial Council Member Amal Silva, Mayor of Moratuwa Samanlal Fernando, self-crowned Social Activist Dan Priyasad and Trade Union Leader Wasantha Handapangoda who were arrested and remanded over the mob attack launched by pro-Rajapaksa protesters on peaceful protesters in front of Temple Trees and in GalleFace on May 09 be further remanded till June 08.
The Magistrate further ordered that Suspect No. 17 Aruna Shantha be produced for an ID parade on June 06 with having him covered.
Senior Deputy Solicitor General Ayesha Jinasena appearing for the Attorney General’s Office told the Court today that former Minister Johnston Fernando, Mahinda Kahandagama, Dilith Fernando and Nishantha Jayasinghe will be cited as suspects to the assault on the peaceful protests held in front of Temple Trees and in GalleFace on May 09.
The Magistrate ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP) that a Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) be appointed to supervise the probe launched by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) into the incident and the IGP, accordingly, informed the Court that SDIG (Crimes) Kamal Silva will be appointed in this regard. Accordingly, the Magistrate ordered the IGP that further steps be taken.
The IGP appeared in the Magistrate Court in compliance with the order made by the Magistrate to inform the Court regarding the non-compliance of the Attorney General’s instructions pertaining to SDIG Deshabandu Thennakoon involving the assault.
Although 32 suspects were to be produced for the ID parade, only five suspects appeared in the Court and among them only three suspects were identified, the Magistrate informed.
The AG’s Office requested the Court not to grant bail given that such a move could provoke public panic and that the investigations are still underway.
In response, the Magistrate informed that these suspects were not seemed to be causing public panic and that evidence were already recorded in this regard. He ordered that the six suspects produced for the ID parade be released on a surety of Rs. 01 million and that Gramasewa certificates be issued for the bail recipients. Their foreign travels were also banned.
The Suspect No. 16 who is currently being produced for an ID parade in the Nugegoda Court pertaining to the Mirihana incident be released on bail in this Court after the ID parade, the Magistrate further ordered.
The Magistrate also ordered that further investigations into the incident be carried out and the matter be reported to the Court at a later date.
MIAP
